Centrifugal machine



March 3, 1931. .1. J. MUNSON CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE Filed Sept. 25. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 3, 1931. J MUNSQN CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE 25. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept.

QOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO QOOOOOO O O O O O O O 0 000000 0OOO0 0 O O O O O O 0 0000000 QOOOOOO O O O O O 0 O 0 000000 6000000 0 O O O O O 0 00000 00 0900000 0 O O O O O O O OOOOOOa OGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOQ Patented Mar. 3, 1931 PATEN TfOFl-ICE JOSEPH JONES MUNSOIL OF HOUMA, LOUISIANA CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE Application filed September 25, 1928. Serial No. 308,265.

This invention relates more especially to continuously operating centrifugal separating machines of the type shown, described and claimed inmy copending application, Serial No. 118,131, whlch was filed in the United States Patent Office under date of June 23, 1926.

The main object of my invention is to provide an improved construction, combination and arrangement of parts in a machine of this charactre whereby a more effective separation of ingredients may be secured, and whereby the machine may be more economically operated and whereby the machine may be better adapted to withstand the Wear and tear of continuous active service.

I Another object of my invention is to provide a centrifugalmachine of improved construction whereby a better distribution of stresses and strains may be secured and an improved balance maintained in the operations of the several parts.

My invention contemplates a centrifugal separating machine in which a plurality of cylindrical baskets are symmetrically arranged with respect to a common axis about which they revolve, while at the same time rotating planetarily on their own axes. 'In machines of this nature, the cylindrical baskets which receive the materials to be separated, may be caused to rotate by means of an eccentric loading of a series of peripheral compartments with which said-baskets are provided, the'velocity of these planetary movements depending upon the rapidity with which the materials are supplied thereto.

Other and further objects of invention will appear in the specification, the particular features relating thereto being recited in the claims in connection with the accompanying drawings which exemplify my invention in a preferred embodiment.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of my improved centrifugal se arating machine.

igure 2 is an enlarged section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, parts being broken away and parts shown in elevatio Figure 3 is an enlar%d fragmentary section on the line 3-3 of igure 1, parts being broken away and parts shown in elevation. Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse section of one of the baskets; and

Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 2, parts being shown in section.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, an outer fixed housing of the machine comprises an imperforate cylindrical wall 1 surmounted by a peripheral top fiange2. A hopper 3 depends from the lower edge of the cylindrical wall 1, a conical plate or wall 4 which is presented upwardly and inwardl from around the lower edge of the cylindrlcal wall 1 being arranged to form an annular trough which discharges outwardly through outlet pipes 5.

Centrally arranged with respect to and dc-I pending within the stationary housing is a rotary shaft 6 which constitutes a preferred means for rotating a movable housing to be presently described. The rotary shaft 6 is provided near its lower end with a conical surface 7 below which extends a threaded reduced end 8. Mounted upon the conical portion 7 of the shaft die the hub 9 of a splder frame comprising radial arms 10. A nut 11 which is threaded to the reduced end 8 of the shaft 6 secures the spider frame to said shaft, a check-nut 12 being provided to retain the nut 11 in position. Each of the radial arms 10 of the spider frame is provided with a plate or flange 14, and an arcuate lug 15 which interlocks with a corresponding recess formed around the inner edge of an annular plate 16 which is secured in position by means of bolts 17. Annular plate 16 constitutes the base of a rotary housing which includes a cylindrical wall 18 and an upper annular "in c:

plate 19. The annular plates 16 and 19are presented inwardly from theupper andlow-f "through suitable openings 18 formed along the lower edge of cylindrical wall 18. The liquids which are thus thrown off bycentrifugal force, formed between the cylindrical wall 1 and the conical plate 4 and flow from thence through the outlets 5.

A. distributor bowl 20 which is rotatable with and relatively. to the shaft 6, is provided with a hub portion 21 which is freely journalled upon the shaft 6 and axially supported by means of a collar 22 secured to said shaft. Said distributor bowl is provided with a central opening 23 through which the shaft 3 depends and into which depends the outlet end 24 of a supply pipe 25. The distributor bowl is provided around its upper peripheral edge with an annular chamber 26 into which water may be discharged from a pipe 27.

Symmetrically arranged with respect to the rotary shaft 6, as shown in Figure 1, are a lurality of planetary baskets, said planetary liaskets being inovably supported in a peculiar way. As shown in igures 2, 3, and 4, each of said planetary baskets comprises an outer cylindrical wall or plate 28 p 'ovided with perforations, an inner screen 9 of fine mesh, and with upper and lower a iiular cap-plates 30 and 31 which are provided with upwardly and downwardly presented flanges or treads 32 which roll upon and are supported by the annular plates or track-bars 16 and 19. Depending from the distributor bowl 20 within each of the planetai'y baskets, is a spout 33 provided with an inwardly-presented orifice 34 which is thus arranged to discharge into successive compartments 35 which are formed within the cylindrical wall 28 by means ofrearwardly deflected partitions 36.. As shown best in "Figure 3 of the drawings, eachof-th p t are rigidly connected to and serveto support 33 is provided with a laterally-presentedfiange or plate 37v by means of which it is rigidly connected to a side. wallof a chute or bathe 38 which as shown in Figure 4 is provided with a trough-like cross-section and which in side elevation as shown in Figure 2, is approximately triangular. Each of the opposite lateral walls of baflie 38 is provided with a base fiange39. As indicated Figures 2 and 4, all of the base flanges 39 a bottom bearing plate 40 which is provided at its center with a bushing 41 which rotatably bears on the shaft 6. It will be understood from this description that the distributor bowl 20, depending spouts 33, bafiles 38, and bottom bearing plate 40 together condrain into the annular trough 7 of the depending spouts 33 is provided with a laterally-presented lug 41 in which is mounted a stud 42. Projecting laterally from a lateral wall of each baffle 38 and arranged oppositely with respect to the lug 41, is another lug 43 which carries a stud 44. Journalled upon the studs 42 and 44 are rollers 45 which bear against the inner wall of circular flange or tread 32, said rollers cooperating with the circular track 19 in ro tatably supporting each of the planetary baskets against undue displacement under the action of centrifugal force while at the same time operating to revolve the central supporting frame around the shaft 6 whenever an eccentric loading of the planetary baskets causes them to travel around the track-bar 19.

It will be understood that when the mach ne is at rest. the planetary baskets are permitted to sag toward the rotary shaft 6 by reason of the downwardly sloping top surfaces of the upper cap rings 30, the lower treads 32 being in bearing engagement with the-bottom bearing plate 40 until the speed of the machine becomes sufficient to displace the planetary baskets outwardly under the action of centrifugal force.

Then the machine is in use, the material to be treated is permitted to flow into distributor bowl 20 from pipe 25 during the rapid whirling of the planetary baskets about the axis of shaft 6. If, for exam le, massecuite is thus discharged into distributor bowl 20, it is thrown outwardly against the inner wall of said bowl; forming itself. into an annular mass. Under high velocity this mass builds 34 of the spouts 33, begins to spill out into the peripheral chambers 35 of the planetary baskets. During the progress of this operation the planetary baskes are caused to rotate on. their own axes under an eccentric loading of the'chambers 35 as fully explained in my above identified copending application, Serial No. 118,131. After all ofthe planetary baskets have become fully loaded, the eccentric loading thereof. will; remain due to the fact that the molasses content of the massecuite in chambers .35 which are moving outwardly from the axis of shaft- 6 is of greater weight than that of the massecuite contained within the chambers 35 which are moving inwardly on the ogposite side of the rotary axis i of each of said askets owing to the separation of the molasses therefrom. The effect of this condition is to maintain the drying baskets in slow rotation at a speed which varies with the rate at which massecuite is introduced thereinto. When and if desired, water may be supplied to the massecuite in chambers by means of perforated pipes (not shown) connected up with the annular water chamber 26 and discharging into said chambers.

1. In a centrifugal machine, the combination'of a rotary housing, a cylindrical screen arranged between the axis of said rotary housing and the peri heral wall thereof, said c lindrical screen ing freely rotatable a out its own axis and progressively movable along the peripheral wall of said rotary housing.

2. In a centrifugal machine, the combination with a rotary cylindrical housing, of a rotary cylindrical se arator basket rotatable about an axis revo vable around the axis of and relatively to said rotary cylindrical housing, said separator bas et havin rolling contact with said rotary cylindricaIhousing whereby said separator basket is adapted by its own rotation to propel itself relativelyto said rotary cylindrical housing and around-the axis thereof.

3. In a centrifugal machine, the combination of a rotary housing, and a separator basket rotatableon an axis which revolves around the axis-of said rotary housing, said separator basket being in progressive rolling contact with said rotary housing over a path which is concentric to the rotary axis of said housing.

t. In acentrifugal machine, the combination ofa rotary cylindrical housing rovided with a track extending around an concentrio with the rotary axis of said housing, and a plurality. of rotary cylindrical separator baskets freely rotatable on axes revolvable about the rotary axis of said cylindrical housing and having rolling contact with said track for propelling them progressively around the cylindrical-wall of said rotary housing.

5. In a centrifugal machine, the combination with a rotary housing provided with an inwardly-presented track-rail, of a planetary basket revolvable about the axis of said rotary housing and having a portion thereof in rolling engagement. with said inwardlypresented track-rail, a'distributor bowl rotatable about the axis of and rclativelyto the rotary housing, and s outs depending within said planetary baskets respectively, said distributor bowl being provided with antifriction rollers movably engaging said rolling portions of each of the planetary baskets. 6. In a centrifugal machine, the combinetion with a rotary housing provided with an,

inwardly-presented track-rail of a plurality of planetary baskets revolvable about the axis of said rotary housing said baskets being provided with treads in rolling engagement with said inwardly-presented track-rail, a distributor bowl concentric with and rotatable relativel to saidrotary housing, said distributor about the axis of said rotary housing, said baskets being provided with axially-spaced treads in rolling engagement with said inwardly-presented track-rails,.and a distributor bowl concentric with said axis of the rotary housing and discharging into said planetary baskets respectively, and means for holding the, rotary axes of said planetary baskets in fixed relation to the rotary axis of said distributor bowl, said distributor bowl and planetary baskets being movable together as a unit relatively to said rotary housing.

8. In a centrifugal machine, the combination with a housing rotatable on an axis, said housing being provided with axially-s aced inwardly-presented track-rails, a plurality of planetary baskets revolvable about the axis of said rotary housing, said baskets being provided with axially-spaced treadsin rolling engagement with said inwardly-presented track-rails, a distributor bowl rotatable u on said axis and relatively to the rotary housmg, said distributor bowl being provided with spouts depending within said planetary baskets respectively.

9. In a centrifugal machine, the combinatary housing, and a supporting frame rotatable on and relatively to said shaft. said suportin frame movabl Y cn a in said lann D P5 etary baskets.

10. Ina centrifugal machine, the combination with a rotary shaft, of arotary housing carried by said shaft, a plurality of planetary baskets rotatable about axe's which travel around ;:-the axis of said shaft, said baskets being in, rolling engagement with said rotary housingand movable progressively along the peripheral wall of said rotary housing, a unitary supporting frame for said baskets rotatable on and relatively to said shaft, and

means carried by s'aid unitary supporting frame for rotatably engaging said planetary baskets. 1

"11. In a centrifugal machine, the combination of alpair of axially-spaced track-bars rotatable on a common axis,.a plurality of *l eccentric loading thereof and movable gressively with respect to said means by t eir rotatable engagement therewith and meansplanetary baskets in rolling contact with said axially-spaced track-bars, said planetary baskets being rotatable about axes symmetrical 1y disposed with respect, to said common axis, means rotatable relatively to said common axis for rotatably supporting saidplaneta'ry I baskets in rolling engagementwith saidaxially-spaced trac -bars.

i 12. In a centrifugal machine, the combina tioniwith a shaft rotatable on an axis, of a plurality of lanetary baskets rotatable'about axes revolva le around the axis of said shaft,

means carried by said rotatable shaft for'ro-j tatably engaging said baskets, said baskets being rotatable on their own axes under an rotatable on and relatively to said shaft for movably supporting said planetary baskets.

13. Ina centrifugal machine, the combination with a rotary shaft, of a rotary housing rotatable with said shaft, a plurality of planetary baskets revolvable about the axis of said rotary shaft and progressively with respect to the outer wall of said housing, a distributor bowl rotatable on and relatively v to said shaft, said distributor bowl discharg- I said planetary baskets respectively, bearing plate rotatable on and relatively to said shaft, and means rigidly con; .necting said bottom bearing plate and the ing into a bottom shaft, and a bafile for each of said planetary baskets, said baffle rigidly connecting said bottom plate tothe distributor spout in said planetary basket.

15. In a centrifugal machine, tion with a rotary shaft, of a rotary housing mounted on and rotatable with said shaft,a"

plurality of planetary baskets rotatably .en-

gaging said rotary housing and progressive 1y movable with respect to the outer wall of said housing, a distributor bowl journalled upon and rotatable relatively to said shaft, said distributor bowl being provided with spouts depending within said planetary baskets respectively, antifriction journalled on said spouts and bearing on said planetary baskets, a bottom bearing plate journalled on and rotatable relatively to said.

shaft, and a baflle for each of said planetary baskets, saidbaflle constituting a rigid cons ider frame,

; an inner supporting the combina-' rollers 16. In a centrifugal machine, the combination of a rotary shaft, a spider frame mounted on the lower end of said rotary shaft, a rotary housing carried by said said rotary housing being provided with a track-rail, a plurality of planetary separator baskets provided with treads motion between sai'db'ottom bearing plate and the distributor spout corresponding thereto; v

in rolling engagement with said track-rail,

frame comprising a distributor bowl journalled on and rotatable relatively to said shaft and discharging into said. baskets" respectively, a bottom plate journalled on and rotatable relatively to said shaft, a bafile extending upwardly through each ofsaid separator baskets and rigidly connected to said bottom plate, and means rigidlyconnecting said baffle to said distributor bowl.

17. In a centrifugal machine, the combination of a rotary shaft, a spider frame mounted on the lower end of said rotary shaft, a rotary housing carried by said spider frame, said rotary housing being provided with upper and lower track-rails, a plurality of planetary separatorbaskets provided with axially-spaced treads in rolling engagement with said upper and lower track-rails. a distributor bowl journalled on and rotatable relatively to said shaft and provided with charging spouts depending into said baskets respectively, a bottom plate journailed on and rotatable relatively to said shaft, and a bathe mounted on said bottom plate and extending upwardly through each of said separator baskets, said bafiles' being connected to said spouts respectively.

18. In a centrifugal machine, the combination of a rotary shaft, a spider frame mounted on the lower end of said rotary shaft, a rotary housing'carri'ed by said spider frame, said rotary housing being provided with upper andlower track-rails. a distributor bowl journalled on and rotatable relatively to said shaft and discharging into said baskets respectively, a bottom plate ournalled on said shaft, a rigid connection between said distributor boWl and said bottom plate, and a plurality of planetary separator baskets provided with axially-spaced treads whereby they are rotatably supported between said track-rails and said rigid connections.

19. In a centrifugal machine, the combination of a rotary shaft, a cylindrical housing secured to and rotatable with said shaft, said rotary housing being provided with upper and lower circular tracks concentric with said said annular plates, said treads beingin rollalso freely journalled on said shaft and baffies extending upwardly through said separator baskets and rigidly connecting said spouts to said bottom plate, said distributor bowl, charging spouts, baflles, and bottom plate forming a unit which is adapted to be rotated relatively to the rotary shaft and housingvby means of the rotation of said separator baskets when eccentrically loaded.

JOSEPH JONES MUNSON. 

